We’ve all heard about different exercise fads that combine some form of workouts and entertainment. From cinema cycling to musical-based exercise classes, there are plenty of opportunities to combine a form of entertainment with a form of exercise in today’s world, whether you are working out at a gym or in the comfort of your own home.
While some people might find this to be a little gimmicky, at first, there are actually plenty of reasons why it makes so much sense for exercise and entertainment to mix...
Exercise should be enjoyable
First of all, if you want to get into a continuous exercise routine, it is incredibly helpful to find a way to make exercise something that is fun, instead of a chore. One way to do this is to find a type of physical activity that you find to be particularly fun.
However, this isn’t always easy to do, especially if you are looking to make it part of a routine. Mixing exercise and entertainment adds an additional layer of enjoyment to simple cardio exercises.
You can push your body further
When you are able to take your mind off of your exercise, you’ll find that you are able to keep at it for longer. When using entertainment while you exercise, it enables you to stimulate your mind, which makes your workout seem shorter and feel more invigorating.
Typically, this works better for simpler workouts, such as running or cycling, due to the fact that you want to make sure that you are maintaining safe exercise practices.
Audio and visual stimulation can improve performance
Not only can entertainment benefit your workout in taking your mind off of the exercise, but the type of entertainment that you are consuming can actually make you focus even harder on your workout, if you are looking to push yourself through an intense session. Studies have shown that listening to music has an impact on the speed and stamina of athletes.
For example, a man named Leonard Ayes discovered in 1911 that cyclists would pedal faster if they were listening to a band that was playing at a high bpm. In addition, certain types of entertainment can get you in a mindset that makes it easier to focus on adrenaline, which can make it easier to push your body further.
